Republic of Congo: Possible Prisoners of Conscience/Fear of torture

Index Number: AFR 22/001/2006
Date Published: 20 April 2006
Categories: Africa, Congo

Human rights defenders Brice Mackosso (m) and Christian Mounzéo (m) were detained on 7 April, apparently because of their human rights work, which has included investigating and denouncing embezzlement of oil revenues by government officials. They are held at the central prison in the country's economic capital, Pointe-Noire, where they are at risk of torture to reveal their sources of information in connection with their human rights work. Torture and other forms of ill-treatment are frequently practised in Congolese detention centres.